Beyond the Bottom Line: Why Employee Health Should be a Business Priority

Business owners may have a legal responsibility for employee safety, but here's why health should be a business priority, too.?

Reduced absenteeism ?

Investopedia defines absenteeism as 'absence from work beyond what would be considered reasonable and customary...' ?

Of course, there are times when employees must be absent from work, but absenteeism becomes a much bigger problem when it happens regularly and without warning.

Absenteeism may be due to poor management, a toxic work environment, mental health issues, office harassment, childcare or commuting issues. It may also be due to job dissatisfaction, etc.

In a 2020 study, Deloitte found that for every ￡1 spent on wellbeing initiatives, companies got ￡5 back and lower rates of absenteeism and presenteeism.

Westfield Health describes presenteeism as 'when employees are at work in body, but not in mind'. Most of us will probably have experienced this at one time or another: turning up to a job when we feel physically unwell or mentally fatigued. It's rarely conducive to productivity. ?

Absenteeism and presenteeism cost the UK economy an estimated ￡73 billion annually. According to one report by the University of Sheffield, promoting physical and mental health significantly predicts the probability of presenteeism. ?

"However, there are a few cases where the effects of health on presenteeism are significantly reduced depending on work characteristics, suggesting that it may also be possible to design work in such a way that health problems have a reduced impact."?

This is important because it shows that employers are far from powerless when it comes to reducing the impact of absenteeism and presenteeism.?

Reduction in staff turnover.

Forbes magazine reports one study in which happier employees meant lower staff turnover rates.? ??

Increased productivity.

Reports suggest that wellbeing can increase productivity by up to 12%. This can be achieved relatively simply, including more natural light or creating a more pleasant working environment. Allowing employees to exercise at work is also one way of boosting focus and productivity. During exercise, the increased blood flow to the brain makes cognitive functioning easier; it's also known to increase creative problem-solving. Exercise supports the physical and mental health of employees, which can make absenteeism and presenteeism less likely while helping offset some of the issues associated with prolonged sitting. It's one reason why Energym is releasing the ECO:POD, which combines employee wellbeing with sustainability. ?

Higher Morale ?

Employers interested in their employees' physical and mental health will usually rate more highly on satisfaction surveys and review sites. In this way, employees can become advocates, beneficial when recruiting for new positions or looking for added reach when posting or advertising on professional platforms like LinkedIn or at events.? ?

Better company performance.?

According to one Gallup study, "Organizations that are the best in engaging their employees achieve earnings-per-share growth that is more than four times that of their competitors."?

How to make employee health a priority?

Recognising the importance of workplace health and wellbeing is one thing, but how can companies prioritise it??

1. Identifying the type of KPI you want to achieve will make tracking and recording progress easier.?What employee health improvements do you want to achieve? It could be a reduction in absenteeism or turnover. Perhaps it's addressing concerns raised in exit interviews or because you want to increase productivity or community within the company.
2. Someone must take responsibility for employee health. There may already be a person or department that covers this area. Some companies have a wellbeing officer. Others create a position within their HR department. Line managers and other staff can also take a course to become Mental Health First Aiders. These are people trained to spot the first signs of mental health issues and signpost anyone struggling to relevant resources and help.
3. Could you talk to people in the company to see if any issues or common themes can be addressed? Talking with HR will help, especially for information gathered during exit interviews or internal questionnaires. These can be highly illuminating. It could be a workload management issue, or people would like a better-equipped kitchen to make more nutritious meals. It could also be that people would like a dining area to socialise with colleagues or other departments. It may be that the lighting is an issue. ?
4. It's essential to start measuring data from day one to track progress. This is key because it's difficult to track thoughts and feelings, especially as morale is subjective. Each company is different, too. It may also make it easier to get financial support for other wellbeing initiatives further down the line if there is number-based evidence to show that it's working. ?
5. Third parties may be able to help, too. It may be easier and more efficient to outsource rather than develop a wellbeing initiative that's handled entirely in-house.
6. Employers can also make it easier for employees to create and attend doctor, hospital or dental appointments. For anyone working full-time hours, scheduling appointments can be challenging, mainly if only limited paid holiday is available. Some companies offer paid leave. Others have flexible time, so it's easier to adapt working hours to fit into appointments. ?